Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-23

old home lie was with Varina most of
the time and / saw him only moment.
'No changes see" said he in n curt
| businesslike way, "not a house painted,
and not q hammer has been heard since |
left Everything is just the same"
''Varina, tooS" suggested.
eyes, Varina, too" he replied. Poor
little thing. Do you know that she lacks
| force of character"
II think nothing Of the kind" | an
swered shortly, ''she certainly has great
deal of patience under trying circum-
stances, and there is some force Of char
! acter in that"
| Strong's eyes fell and he gave me a
parting clasp of the hand. He had to re-
| Join the railway kings at their next stop
ping place. 1t was hard to tear himself
away, but it could not be helped,
His visit could not have been very sat
isfactory to Varina, for from that time
saw a change in her. Her face began to
have weary, sad look, and she plodded
on with her school work, Withdrawing
herself almost entirely from society. She
still received letters from New York, but
they were less frequent than formerly.
When Strong paid his next visit to Cot
tonvlle, the following year, he was
millionaire. This tin>5 he remained several
! days and was at his best. Everybody re-
marked that prosperity had not spoiled
him. He was devoted to Varina, but the
poor girl seemed 10 be in dazed state.
She saw something in her lover that no
one else saw, "A GOODNESS that she alone
could detect.
After his departure we all began won
dcring when the marriage would take
place had said nothing to Strong about
IA. a L., IN.
Only once had he said anything that re-
motley referred to 1t,
"You people call ne n rich man." he
said, 'and suppose am, but you do not
know how complicated my business is.
am liable any night to go home million
or two richer or wrc.ched pauper. For
Gods sake let speculation aIonev'
thought of Strong's words often dur
ing the next year From time to time we
heard of his success. Everything that he
touched seemed to turn to gold. Even in
New York men spoke of him as the young
Napoleon.
1t was an awful crash and it carried
some of the proudcst firms in the great
city down with it.
In our little village we could hardly re-
alize it. Surely Strong had been prudent
enough to save something out of the
wreck
Our hope proved to be without founda-
tion. Not only had Strong's entire fortune
been swept away, but be would have to
begin the world again owing fully mil
lion dollars.
The brave fellow bore up for few days.
His conduct was so manly that there was
some talk of setting him upon his feet
again, and it was predicted that he would
retrieve his losses and make another for
tune.
But the strain was too much. Finally
he staggered to his bed, and when he arose
from it, long weeks afterwards, his attack
of brain fever had done its worst
Gle is u mental wreck, said Banker
Jones, who had just returned from New
York. -
''is there no hope?"
'None whatever. He will never regain
his senses. He may improve physically,
but his mind is gone forever"
1--WE must do something for him." I
said.
Something has been done" replied
Jones with very moist eyes ''Varina -
"Whut has she done?'i
'Lhat noble woman, sir, went on to
New York with her uncle. They took
poor Strong and placed him in n private
asylum, where he will receive every care
and attention You know that Variua
hos given up her school and is living with
her uncle, who is going to make her his
heiress. Well, those two are going to
foot the bills and see to it that Strong is
taken care of us long as he lives"
1t was years afterward when | saw
Strong for the first time since his misfor-
tune.
Business had called me to New York,
and on the second day after my arrival |
visited the asylum, II short distance from
the city.
At first thought that Strong had COM
plctely recovered, he was looking so well,
but his talk undeceived me.
"And how is Cottonvlle?' he asked.
"Slow old place, too slow, no progress,
nothing to keep man of ability there.
Why don't you come here? | have some
big schemes on foot, and possibly III let
you inn
| was glad to see that he recognized me,
and | humored his rambling talk for an
hour.
- saw Narna before left" said.
"Nariual Oh, little Varina Vincent.
10 you know once thought OF marrying
her, but | saw that it wouldn't do. Good
girl, but no force of character, you know.
Why, they call me the young Napoleon of
finance. Now, how would such wife
have suited me? Well / managed it so
AS not to hurt her feelings. let the en-
gagement run along, and at last she of
fered to release me. | accused her of not
having faith in me, and got in a high
dudgcon and accepted my freedom. Good,
wasn't t"'
1t was too much for me, rose to 60
Strong accompanied me to the door, and
chatted about his imaginary specuations.
"StayH he cried, rs | was leaving.
He handed me little flower from the
profusion that declled his table.
''Give that to Narina," he said.
| took it and rushed off, unable to
speak.
OF course | pressed that flower, and
took the utmost care of it until | reached
Cottonville.
When gave it to Varna, and told her
who sent it, the poor thing cried over it
until thought her heart would break
Women are SO peculiar. Wallace F. Reed
in \ tlaDto Constitution